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The Sweep 26 Week 5: The Ones make it 3 from 3 in another Bradninch thriller
- Cornwood Cricket club
- 9 hours ago
- 8 min read
Words: Simon Travers
Match Photos: Ivor Thomas
Poetry Corner: Ryan Hewitt
It’s a busy Sweep this week as a half-term heatwave ensured 13 games got played across the club. The Ones faced a Bradninch & Kentisbeare side who have been Devon’s premier side for the past two seasons but came to Oak Park with just one win from four. Bradninch’s recent league dominance reflected in fixtures between the teams, with a run of three blow-out wins for the champions but the long-term trend for this rivalry to deliver low scoring, tight affairs. The teams have faced each other in the DCL 34 times. On 13 of those matches, the team batting first posted less than 150. 7 matches have had a winning margin of 21 runs or less, or 3 wickets or less, including the Ones’ closest loss by runs, a 2 run defeat in July 1994.
Bradninch captain Gary Chappell elected to bat and his innings reflected his side’s performance. Chappell hung tough for 73 balls to make 28 before becoming the second of Adam Goodliffe’s three victims (6.5-0-14-3). When Adam got Tim Piper with the ball after Chappell’s dismissal, the visitors were 69-4 in 21.3 overs. Cornwood’s bowlers dried up the runs with one boundary hit between the 18th and 35th over. Adam Goodliffe, Mohsin Khan and Elliott Staddon’s economy rates were below three, while Matt Skeemer and Lee Baker were below four. Jonathan Triner and Daniel Hardy looked to hang around for a big finish but all that built with their 37 run 5th wicket partnership over 94 balls was pressure. Lee Baker (3-32) made the breakthroughs that removed both set batters. Then Matt Skeemer returned with an explosive 43rd over, taking 3 wickets in 4 balls for figures of 4-37 and leaving Bradninch & Kentisbeare with 138 on the board.
A quarter of the season in, it is becoming clear that Ryan Rickard is in the best form of his career. 2026 is already one of Ryan’s top five seasons for the Ones with 196 runs in May at 49. Ryan’s 47 from 100 balls on Saturday kept Cornwood in the match as wickets clattered regularly at the other end. Joshua Farley was the last man to take a five-fer against the Ones at Oak Park in July 2024 and he carbon-copied his figures of 5-30 to block any Cornwood plans for a quick victory. The relative comfort of 65-2 turned into a serrated knife edge of 113-8. Needing 26, Adam Goodliffe joined Alex Shutt at the crease. They stayed composed and waited for a matchup they liked against Jonathan Triner in another crucial 43rd over. Adam and Alex both hit the boundaries that got the Ones over the line with two wickets spare.
Across the Premier Division, Exmouth batted Sandford out of the game, Paignton were comfortable winners away at Hatherleigh, Exeter had far too much for Sidmouth, and Plymouth won their derby against Tavistock. The Ones are third in the pack of four teams with three wins.
The Ones pulled double duty with a breezy Sunday morning T20 Cup workout at Oak Park against Budleigh Salterton. For the spectators who set their alarm clocks, the reward of was a second Mohsin Khan century of the season. Mohsin found the boundary from ball one and batted through to score 127* from 63 with 6 fours and 11 maximums. Elliott Staddon made 35 in support as The Ones set a target of 202-5. Budleigh Salterton fought back as openers Edward Doble (50 from 30) and Hugo Hughes (45 from 29) put on 77 for the first wicket in 8.1 overs. After that, the Ones took control. There were 3 wickets each for Matt Puttock (3-39) and Elliott Staddon (3-45) as Budleigh totalled 174-9. The Ones won by 28 runs and are rewarded with a trip to Tavistock.
The Twos battled an Ipplepen side who lead C Division West after 8 straight years in B Division. Trying to win this division can feel a bit like playing Super Mario. Only one team is promoted. It can feel like you have to get every move right and time every jump or you fall down a hole or get hit by a turtle and have to start from scratch.
Robin Dart won the toss and the Twos made a perfectly good job of their innings. As a team, the Twos respected the quality parts of Ipplepen’s attack and thoroughly exploited the lack of a strong fifth bowling option. It’s a rare occasion when the top seven in the order all score more than 20 but everyone chipped in. Chris Parker top scored with 43 from 35, but there were 30s for Alex Robinson (33) and Robin Dart (32), and a 29* for Aaron Richards in his first Cornwood innings since 2023. The Two’s total after 45 overs was 259-6 and the local view around the pavilion was that would be plenty.
It turned out not so as Ipplepen found their best batting form to chase a 6 wicket victory. The leader of the charge was Jamie Ingram, an 18 year old New Zealander from the same Taranaki region as Cornwood’s own Greg Paynter. Ingram dealt in leg side boundaries, and managed attacks of cramp, to smash 114 from 106 balls. He was supported by a measured 67* from Tobias Alsop and a sturdy 31 from Marcus Gadie. The Twos were not quite their razor sharpest in the field but they were never out of the match.
The Twos are the long-term benchmark of quality in C Division West, with more wins than any other team since 2018. Ipplepen lead the division and thus assume the Mario role this year. It took their best shot to see off the Twos on Saturday, but one slip or mistimed jump and Robin Dart’s team of Bowsers will be breathing fire at their necks.
The Threes put in another quality performance against Stokeinteignhead to reach the right end of a congested E Division West table. Adam Whiting put the visitors into bat and a sharp spell from Jack Lane (7-0-29-3) meant Stokeinteignhead were 76-5 after 19 overs. Andy Bees kept control in the middle overs, while there was a brace for Charlie Cawardine and Dan Rohde to bowl out the visitors for 154. The Thress innings started really positively with an 84 run partnership from Bruno Warwick-James and Ewan Horner. Bruno top scored with a crisp 51 from 57 balls including 10 boundaries. Asish Jacob was able to make some headway through the Cornwood order with 4-41, but the Threes made it past the finish line with 5 wickets and 14.1 overs intact. The Threes are tied second in the table, which is impressive after two cancelled fixtures.
The Fours might feel their match against Plympton 3XI was one that got away on the village square at Holbeton. Despite an aggressive 54 in 40 from Plympton keeper Chris Dawe and 45 from Simon Beare, the Fours were able to restrict Plympton to 179. The afternoon’s top figures went to Tommy Burrows with 3-29 while Marc Whaley and Simon Garland both took two. The Fours reply started brightly due to Evie Privett making 33 from 45. Plympton delivered an intense performance in the field, but the Fours kept making steady progress. Charles Knight steered the innings with 37 from 62 and he was joined by Marc Whaley with 26 from 32. The two were together with six overs left and 26 needed, but it was not to be this time as two run outs helped strand the Fours 21 runs short. A first Fours win of the year is surely just around the corner.
On Sunday, both the Women’s Firsts and Delamore softball team were in action. The Oak Park Sisterhood welcomed Hatherleigh in the second match of the T20 Plate competition. Chloe Rose (46*) and Claire Dennis (58) put on 127 for the first wicket but the Women’s First bowlers did a fine job of containing Hatherleigh to 135-2. None of the Cornwood bowlers went above 7.75 an over, and Lily Whaley-Sweet deserved a wicket after conceding just 18 runs from 4 overs. Keira De Villiers blasted 47 from 31 with 8 boundaries as Cornwood chased, while Ojasvie Dhulkotia played well for 21 from 23. The Women’s First’s momentum was blocked though by 3 wickets from Olivia Cooper (3-12) as Cornwood finished on an even 100, 35 runs short. Earlier in the day, the Delamores were in action against Plymst**k in the Tamar Divison of the Softball League. It was a close game with just 7 runs and a wicket difference between the sides as Plymst**k came out on top this time.
The P&D team launched against Yealmpton at Delamore Park on Thursday, as Mick & Rocky’s Astro Army cashed in on two mighty innings from the big dogs. Robin Dart got to work early and completed a 101* knock in 42 balls with 11 fours and 7 sixes. A batter retirement is supposed to help the bowling side, but Robin’s 240.5 strike rate looked pedestrian next to Ewan Grewal’s 310.3. Ewan hit 90* in 29 balls with 7 fours and 10 sixes. Two of those sixes were big enough to land just feet in front of the last line of cars before the bushes. Cornwood finished on 274-2 from 20 overs, which Yealmpton gamely chased to the tune of 191-4, 83 behind. Thomas Mitchell hit 66 from 41 while Ewan Grewal took 2-29. 465 runs, the right result and a pint on a sun-drenched Thursday night. What more could you ask for?
The Under 13s had the week’s most remarkable finish to their Tier 1 match away at Paignton on Sunday. Having set 122-7 with 32 from Rehaan, the Under 13s had their backs against the wall. Paignton needed 3 to win from 8 balls with 4 wickets remaining. Yasser took the first of those before Sam produced a triple wicket maiden in the last over for an extraordinary 2 run victory. Things had been more comfortable on Thursday in the Tier 2 match against away at Plympton. Yasser made 41* from 29 as the Under 13s scored an imposing 158-4. Two wickets for Rehaan, Henry and Joseph turned that total into a 99 run victory.
Last, but absolutely by no means least, the Under 15s were on tour in South Wales this week. The flavours, atmosphere and joy of the tour are all captured perfectly in poem form by Colts Manager Ryan Hewitt.
Late in May the Cornwood Under 15 lads
Departed for Wales with their Mums and Dads.
“Tour!” was the shout from the boys in green.
Cricketers of this level, the Welsh had never seen.
We started with a tour of Glamorgan CCC,
Then trained in their nets with a sense of glee,
Then on to Vale CC beneath a 34-degree sun,
Where Cornwood showed no mercy and got the job done.
A reward was due… They answered in one voice.
“Cheeky Nandos” was the players choice.
Then to Barry Island where it’s time to check-in,
All too tired to know what’s occurin’
Day two and to the beach with the sun still roasting,
Eoin and Harvey won the boules, they were simply coasting,
Then Barry Athletic felt the Cornwood batting power,
A heavy defeat made for a painful hour
After the beach, arcades and fun fair rides,
It was off to the Italian (with plenty of sides),
Then the Hooligans walk, a tour tradition that renowned
Mischievous boys showing Barry is their ground.
Harvey won the mystery prize, beard clippers and Chewy’s hair.
What started as careful trimming became a barber’s nightmare.
Water park on Thursday with splashing slides and screams
The perfect cure for aching limbs and cricket-fuelled daydreams.
Then off to Lisvane they marched for one final time,
To secure a third straight victory was simply sublime.
Three days in relentless sunshine had left thirteen lads quite broken.
They travelled home in silence with barely a word spoken.
A thousand memories were made of cricket, friends and laughter.
(The parents can figure out how much it cost, but wait a few days after)
For tours are more than scorecards, trophies, wickets, runs or fame,
They're the stories told for years to come; and this one was some game!
***
Next weekend, the Ones have a chance to make it four wins from four at Oak Park against Sidmouth. The Twos navigate a trip to Chudleigh while the Threes are a junction further up the A38 at Kenn. The Fours welcome Buckfastleigh to Delamore Park. On Sunday, the Women’s Firsts face another DWCL Division 1 Challenge against North Devon while the Fives play Kingsbridge.
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